If you make the official product more convenient than the pirated one, people are more likely to buy the official one. However, publishers are forcing legitimate customers to deal with CD-keys, online activations, limited installs, constant internet connection requirements, etc.
No argument there, Jerykk. Fair call mate, and despite several having had a go in here, you're the first to have brought up what I consider to be a decent point. I'm all for them taking steps to eliminate piracy, but at the point where legitimate paying customers are having to work harder than the pirates, well, that's a problem.
Compared to console gamers being able to just throw the disk in and play, I can fully understand some of the resentment being dished out here, particularly towards Ubisoft. I haven't bought from them for a while, to be honest, and just thinking about having to stomach all of that is enough to give me a headache.
even more sick of ignorant assholes equating piracy with theft.
Brilliant. Now it's not even theft.
I'm all for a well thought out discussion on the topic, but InBlack, seriously, you have like... nothing.
Actually, I tell a lie. You have a nifty blue line, but alas, not much else.
I'll use "Splinter Cell Chaos Theory", a game that avoided being cracked for over a year, which is pretty rare
Actually, I read it was playable from day one for most people, it just required more work than usual. Seems that people had to use an app to hide their drive from the Starforce protection, in addition to something like DT to mount.
Fair enough though, maybe there's some truth to what you're saying, and maybe there just aren't that many dedicated PC gamers around anymore. That said, among so many potentials, it's a pity you have only one example. Jury's still out, I'd say, which makes me anything but trolling.
Edit: And the world of goo numbers indeed have some factual basis behind them:
http://2dboy.com/2008/11/13/90/
That was a very interesting read. Seems like they put a lot of work into finally determining an 82% piracy rate. Not quite as high as Ubisoft are stating, but still pretty high.